Alexandra Hospital
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Alexandra Hospital (AH) is a hospital located in Queenstown,
Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
that provides
acute Acute may refer to: Science and technology * Acute angle ** Acute triangle ** Acute, a leaf shape in the glossary of leaf morphology * Acute (medicine), a disease that it is of short duration and of recent onset. ** Acute toxicity, the adverse eff ...
and community care under the
National University Health System The National University Health System (NUHS) is a group of healthcare institutions in Singapore. The group was formed in 2008 and operates several hospitals, national specialty centres, and polyclinics. The National University Hospital is the la ...
. The hospital's colonial-style buildings were constructed in the late 1930s on of land. Under British rule, it was known as the
British Military Hospital British Military Hospitals were established and operated by the British Army, both at home and overseas during the 19th and 20th centuries, to treat service personnel (and others in certain circumstances). They varied in size, purpose and permanen ...
and was the site of a massacre in February 1942 by the Japanese as they took over Singapore in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. After the liberation of Singapore, the hospital was returned to its British administration, before being handed over to the Singapore government on 11 September 1971. Since then, it has gone through four changes of administration, most recently on 1 June 2018, to a team of long-term stewards under the
National University Health System The National University Health System (NUHS) is a group of healthcare institutions in Singapore. The group was formed in 2008 and operates several hospitals, national specialty centres, and polyclinics. The National University Hospital is the la ...
.


History


British Military Hospital

Established in 1938 as the British Military Hospital, the facility served as the principal
military hospital A military hospital is a hospital owned and operated by a military. They are often reserved for the use of military personnel and their dependents, but in some countries are made available to civilians as well. They may or may not be located on a ...
of the
British Far East Command The Far East Command was a British military command which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command ( ABDACOM), and secondly, 1963–1971 succeeded ...
. During the
Fall of Singapore The Fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore,; ta, சிங்கப்பூரின் வீழ்ச்சி; ja, シンガポールの戦い took place in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. The Empire o ...
in February 1942, it was the scene of a massacre by
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese soldiers of wounded British servicemembers and medical staff. After
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Alexandra Hospital remained as one of the most modern hospitals in Singapore up to the 1970s. In its heyday, Alexandra Hospital was an institution that adopted cutting-edge medical technology and in 1975 became the first hospital in Southeast Asia to successfully perform limb re-attachment to a patient. Alexandra Hospital also employed several renowned medical experts, including: * Sir
Roy Calne Sir Roy Yorke Calne, FRCP, FRCS, FRS (born 30 December 1930) is a British surgeon and pioneer in organ transplantation. Career His most notable achievements are the world's first liver, heart, and lung transplant together with John Wallwor ...
, internationally renowned transplant surgeon * Major A.P. Dignan, later Major General, Director of Army Surgery * Sir
David Weatherall Sir David John Weatherall, (9 March 1933 – 8 December 2018) was a British physician and researcher in molecular genetics, haematology, pathology and clinical medicine. Early life and education David Weatherall was born in Liverpool.Geoff Wa ...
, Regius professor of medicine and honorary director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the
University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...


Post-independence

Following the gradual downsizing and withdrawal of the British military presence in Singapore, the hospital was handed over to the
government of Singapore The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of Singapore to mean the executive branch of the state, which is made up of the president and the Cabinet. Although the president acts in their personal discretion in the exercise ...
on 11 September 1971 and renamed Alexandra Road General Hospital. On 1 October 2000, the hospital became a member of the
National Healthcare Group The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is a group of healthcare institutions in Singapore. The group was formed in 2000 and operates several hospitals, national specialty centres, and polyclinics. Tan Tock Seng Hospital is the largest hospital i ...
and underwent a major upgrade of its facilities.


Restructuring and changes in management

In 2001, plans were made to move to a new hospital in Jurong by 2006. However, in 2004, the plans were scrapped in favour of a move to a new 500-bed hospital in
Yishun Yishun, formerly known as Nee Soon, is a residential town located in the northeastern corner of the North Region of Singapore, bordering Simpang and Sembawang to the north, Mandai to the west, the Central Water Catchment to its southwest, An ...
to be called Northern General Hospital, by 28 March 2009. (This hospital in Yishun is not to be confused with another new hospital planned for the nearby
Woodlands Woodlands may back refer to: * Woodland, a low-density forest Geography Australia * Woodlands, New South Wales * Woodlands, Ashgrove, Queensland, a heritage-listed house associated with John Henry Pepper * Woodlands, Marburg, Queensland, a her ...
, announced in March 2006 on the grounds that Northern General would not be able to serve enough people living in the north.) On 16 May 2007, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, while attending the HIMSS AsiaPac 2007 conference, announced that the name of the new general hospital in Yishun was to be
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Khoo Teck Puat Hospital ( Abbreviation: KTPH) is a 795-bed general and acute care hospital located at Yishun in Singapore. Named after Singaporean hotelier, Khoo Teck Puat, the hospital is part of an integrated development together with the a ...
(KTPH). The family of late Mr
Khoo Teck Puat Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat (; 13 January 1917 – 21 February 2004) was a banker and hotel owner, who, with an estimated fortune of S$4.3 billion (US$3,195,953,500), was the wealthiest man in Singapore at one point. He owned the Goodwood Gr ...
had donated S$125 million for hospital construction and funding. The new hospital was to be different from other hospitals as it promises to put patients first and aims to minimise bureaucracy and paperwork. It was initially planned for Alexandra Hospital to be closed after KTPH was opened, but after August 2010, the hospital was kept in operation and transferred to Jurong Health after August 2010. On 8 September 2012, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announced that the hospital will remain in operation at least until 2018, but the team slated to run the Sengkang General and Community Hospitals will take over the facilities after the opening of
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) is a 700-bed hospital located in Jurong East, Singapore. Named after Singaporean late entrepreneur, Ng Teng Fong, the hospital is part of an integrated development together with the adjoining Jurong Community ...
in 2014–2015. A decision on the future of the hospital will be made nearer to 2018, said the Health Minister. Previously, Sengkang Health took over from JurongHealth ceased operations at Alexandra Hospital to prepare for the opening of
Ng Teng Fong General Hospital Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) is a 700-bed hospital located in Jurong East, Singapore. Named after Singaporean late entrepreneur, Ng Teng Fong, the hospital is part of an integrated development together with the adjoining Jurong Community ...
. On 26 January 2015, with the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital opening in July 2015, Alexandra Hospital was to be closed for maintenance and renovation. Specialist Outpatient Clinics Services continued to operate at AH until its move to NTFGH. Alexandra Hospital was to be taken over by Sengkang Health and reopened in phases by the third quarter of 2015. JurongHealth ceased operations at Alexandra Hospital (AH) at 5.30 pm on 29 June 2015 to prepare for the opening of NTFGH the next day. This was to include the hospital's Specialist Outpatient Clinics and Emergency Department. Sengkang Health reopened the hospital in phases, with its Specialist Outpatient Clinics, operating theatres and other medical facilities becoming operational in 2016. After Sengkang Health moved out of the premises, the National University Health System (NUHS) took over the hospital on 1 June 2018. Since its takeover by the NUHS, the hospital provides care under a single continuum, from acute, sub-acute, to rehabilitative care. Through five key programmes (preventive care, urgent and acute care, long-term chronic care, elder care, and palliative care), care is provided to each patient by a team led by one principal doctor. This model of health and care is defined by elements abbreviated as OOOOOH (One patient, One bed, One care team, One principal doctor, One with the community, Healthcare redesign).


Future developments

Alexandra Hospital will be redeveloped into an integrated health campus by 2030, in view of the rising demand in health and medical services set to increase, as the population intensifies in the southwestern region of Singapore, and will be first public hospital redeveloped after the COVID-19 pandemic. The future hospital is planned to be pandemic-ready, green and sustainable, with phygital care, new roles for nurses and caregivers, under a resource-efficient care model. It will also incorporate six peaks of excellence in areas such as Integrated Care, Geriatric Medicine, Supportive and Palliative Care Medicine, Rehabilitative Medicine, Psychological Medicine, Ambulatory Surgery. Psychiatric services will also be set up, with inpatient wards to cater for acute and sub-acute psychiatric care and rehabilitation, as well as services on medical psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and psychogeriatrics. Alexandra Hospital will form part of a future Health District in Queenstown and with an increased clinical capacity, support the Healthier SG initiative.


Services


Urgent Care Centre

The Urgent Care Centre is a 24-hour clinic that provides immediate medical attention to
walk-in Walk In can refer to: *Walk In, 1997 Hong Kong film directed by Herman Yau * ''The Walk-In'' (TV series), a British TV crime drama series * "The Walk In" (''The Americans''), an episode of the US TV series ''The Americans'' * Walk-in (concept) * '' ...
patients with acute and urgent medical conditions, as well as those admitted to Alexandra Hospital via private ambulance. For patients requiring more than basic care, blood and radiological tests and further treatment are administered under the care of a single holistic care team.


Community Care Coordination Unit (C3U) @ AH

The Community Care Coordination Unit (C3U) @ AH is a multidisciplinary team that bring together healthcare teams and care managers to work with patients, families, and community partners for early clinical and social interventions.


Specialties


Gardens

A 20 hectare medicinal garden was opened at AH on 30 July 2005. The garden was based on a book by Singaporean botanist Wee Yeow Chin and took three months to plant the garden. The garden is part of providing a healing environment for patients and visitors. Gardens surrounding the hospital are home to over 500 plant species and 100
butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...
species in the butterfly trail. Members of nature societies have used the hospital gardens as a study ground. The gardens were upgraded in 2000 under the direction of Rosalind Tan, senior executive at the hospital's operations department. On 6 November 2019, a Therapeutic Horticulture Programme was started in the gardens to provide occupational therapy to patients. A commemorative plaque in the gardens honours the hundreds of hospitalized soldiers and staff massacred by Japanese forces in 1942.


See also

*
Lists of hospitals These are links to lists of hospitals around the world. According to Cybermetrics Lab, they completed their rankings from over 16,500 hospitals worldwide in 2015. By continent *Lists of hospitals in Africa *Lists of hospitals in Asia *Lists of h ...


References


External links


Alexandra Hospital Official website
{{Authority control Hospital buildings completed in 1938 Hospitals in Singapore Hospitals established in 1938 Queenstown, Singapore